Facteon People: Product Marketing to People Empowerment

Powered by optimism, Anni brings her authentic self to Facteon each day. Here, Facteon’s HR Coordinator reflects on her career journey to date.

What advice do you offer to a new graduate starting out in the workforce?

Be willing to try new things. Following my graduation from University of Auckland in Management and Marketing in 2017, I tried my hand at retail buying and recruitment in the legal industry. I intended to pursue marketing or buying following graduation but found that I naturally gravitated towards HR as people are really interesting.

You never know where you’ll end up. It’s important to have an idea of where you want to head. But this should be a guide map, not a rule book. Ultimately, you curate your career tool kit. You never know what skills you’ll draw on in your future roles and right now I am using my marketing, buying and management skills and knowledge.

What advice do you have for a new graduate experiencing Imposter Syndrome?

When you’re new to a role, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and to question your ability. As a graduate, everything is fresh.

If you experience Imposter Syndrome, the remedy is to trust your gut. You have been hired because you are capable. There are things you do not know but nearly everything can be learned.

I find it helpful to talk challenging tasks through with my manager. For me, this cemented the value of mentoring. It doesn’t need to be a formal meeting – it can be as relaxed as a catch up over coffee in the lunchroom or at your desk. Taking a break and talking through a challenge can be all that’s needed to stamp out that voice of doubt.

Take a step back and formulate a plan of attack. Then, tackle the challenge head-on. You may be surprised with what you’re able to achieve.

What gets you out of bed every day?

It’s knowing that I’ll be working with a motivated, positive and friendly group of people that are willing to support each other. We have a team of talented people with diverse skill sets that are all committed to driving the success of our customers. I am part of that mission. If we keep our people engaged, they will be empowered to deliver for our customers.